"Julian was chatting with various film directors and movie executives about the show and the possibility it would make a fantastic feature film," a source told the paper.

"Reese Witherspoon and Meryl Streep were also seen chatting and congratulating him. He was very much flying the flag for British TV."

However, Fellowes was said to be cautious about the possibility of a Downton Abbey movie in conversation, with the insider adding: "They were all chatting about how much of a success the film version would be.

"Julian was explaining he would have to give the idea a lot of thought and that lots of people have already asked him about film rights."